<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An Australian paddleboarder in Hawaii said he and a group of mates moved to higher ground and are hunkering down in a high-rise apartment after tsunami sirens started blaring on the beach.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Charlie Verco, 24, from Bondi, was due to fly home tomorrow but is concerned flights off the island of O'ahu may be impacted by the tsunami warning, which has extended to every Hawaiian island.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/russia-earthquake-live-updates-kamchatka-peninsula-tsunami-alert-japan-latest-news-headlines/06999eb8-3572-4bc1-881c-d5194c39153b" rel="" target="_blank" title="A tsunami has already hit coastal areas of Russia's Kuril Islands"><span>A tsunami has already hit coastal areas of Russia's Kuril Islands</span></a><span> and Japan's large northern island of Hokkaido after a powerful, 8.8-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Russia.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/russia-earthquake-live-updates-kamchatka-peninsula-tsunami-alert-japan-latest-news-headlines/06999eb8-3572-4bc1-881c-d5194c39153b" target="_blank"><strong><span>Fukushima nuclear plant evacuated after 'strongest in decades' quake</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We were on the shore on Diamond Head and got evacuated," Charlie told </span><a href="http://9news.com.au"><span>9news.com.au</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I was with some locals when the alerts came out and they said it happens often, but after they made some calls they think this one could be serious."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Charlie is in Hawaii after winning the world championships board race.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/tsunami-warning-russia-earthquake-update-australian-paddeboarder-and-brother-evacuated-in-hawaii/d8d0055c-027b-48eb-a766-19fcac24190d" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His brother George said he saw people "panic buying" water after the evacuation notice was issued.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said some surfers were still taking to the waves despite the warning.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>O'ahu local Naomi said the community was taking it "a little more seriously" than they normally would.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The stores I went to, every single person was buying water," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/jeffrey-epstein-ghislaine-maxwell-united-states-testify/54c81e8b-df99-4564-a9af-e69a13a0b487" target="_blank"><strong><span>Epstein's accomplice offers to reveal all - but there's a catch</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While some locals heeded the warning, Charlie said he could still see people jetskiing from the apartment he is taking shelter in.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There's police and first responders and water safety out right now just letting everybody know to get up a little bit higher."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said waves of one to three metres above tide level were possible along some coastal areas of Hawaii, Chile, Japan and the Solomon Islands.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There are no tsunami risks currently for New Zealand and Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/multiple-people-injured-in-mini-bus-crash-in-nsw-hunter-valley-regionx/ea21466a-6056-42a4-adee-3c67861f4995" target="_blank"><strong><span>Six injured in wedding minibus crash in NSW Hunter Valley</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The latest Smartraveller advice warned Australians in Hawaii of the potential for tsunamis.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It said any travellers in Hawaii should listen to authorities and evacuate immediately. "A magnitude 8.6 earthquake has occurred approximately 60kms offshore from the southern tip of the Kamchatka peninsula in Russia," the advice reads.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"A tsunami warning is in place for the west coast of the US including Alaska and Hawaii. There's an evacuation order in place for Hawaii.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If you're in the affected area, move to higher ground immediately. If there's an official evacuation warning, immediately follow the advice of local authorities."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Similar advice has been given to popular holiday destinations Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Cook Islands and the Solomon Islands.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Authorities on the US west coast have also issued a tsunami advisory and warned residents to stay away from the beach and waterways.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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